A320 noises

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04-23-2009 | 06:49 AM

seanthornton

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A320 noises

Anyone know exactly what the pulsating and whining or groaning noises are when the Airbus powers up or down? Sounds like a dinosaur calling for its mother.....Just curious

04-23-2009 | 07:13 AM

unemployedagain

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From: Non flying, pays better than any front seat, home every night, not missing the crashpad/

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanthornton

Anyone know exactly what the pulsating and whining or groaning noises are when the Airbus powers up or down? Sounds like a dinosaur calling for its mother.....Just curious

It is the hydraulic Power Transfer Unit, The PTU is used when there is right hydraulic system pressure but no left hydraulic system pressure. It transfers hydraulic power from the right hydraulic system to the left hydraulic system. There is no intermixing of hydraulic fluid between the left and right hydraulic systems during PTU operation. The PTU is able to operate the hydraulic motor generator during all phases of flight.

On start up it goes through a self test.

I thought it sounds more like a german shepard barking..

04-23-2009 | 07:18 AM

captscott26

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From: A320 CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanthornton

Anyone know exactly what the pulsating and whining or groaning noises are when the Airbus powers up or down? Sounds like a dinosaur calling for its mother.....Just curious

It is the hydraulic PTU...it shares the hyd pressure from one side if the other side is not pressurized. So when u shut down an engine the pump would kick on to keep that side pressurized.

04-23-2009 | 07:21 AM

Superpilot92

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From: Guppy Commander

No, it really is a dinosaur calling for its mother

04-23-2009 | 08:47 AM

BoredwLife

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I always thought it sounded like a pneumatic drill, like the kind you hear in a mechanics garage when they do a tire change.

04-23-2009 | 09:06 AM

olympic

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From: 747

PTU in all aircraft sounds like that .. quiet annoying.

04-23-2009 | 09:34 AM

FastDEW

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From: 777 Left

You will hear it as long as only one engine is running.

I think it sounds like a car starter with a low battery.

Anyway, we can't hear it from the front, so it is just there to annoy the passengers